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UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IV. FRAZIER, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS G. CHRISTIE, OF SAME PLACE.

GALVANIC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,298, dated May 16, 1899. Application filed April 6, 1898- Serial No. 676,611. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. FRAZIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Galvanic Batteries; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

My invention relates to galvanic batteries, more particularly to that class of primary sources of current electricity from chemical action commonly known as dry batteries, wherein the entirely-fluid element is replaced by an absorbent of neutral material saturated with the fluid.

In many forms of dry battery the absorbent is sawdust, which has been found to deteriorate with time and to become a corrosive, settingup more or less local action within the cell.

The object of my invention is to obviate the necessity for employing sawdust or other organic substances, substituting therefor a practical extension of the carbon electrode formed by packing ground carbon about and beneath a central solid core of the same material.

Each constituent element of my invention is described in detail, and its individual oifice, as well asthe mode of operation of the whole, fully explained hereinbelow.

The drawing represents a vertical midsectional view.

Letter A marks a zinc vessel, usually cylindrical, having a conveniently-placed connector a.

B designates a cylindrical bag formed by successive layers or windings of asbestos paper or cloth adapted to fit vessel A interiorly.

O designates a stick of hard carbon having its pores near the top filled with paraffin, applied hot in the customary manner, to prevent the capillary elevation of the liquid and consequent corrosion of the connector 0, with which the carbon stick is provided.

In assembling the parts of my invention bag B is placed within the zinc A, and asbestos disks D close the bag at the bottom. The carbon stick is inserted centrally and about it is closely packed ground carbon E, holding a saturated solution of sal-ammoniac or other suitable excitants. When the bag is filled nearly to the top, its edges are folded inwardly to the carbon C, and hot rosin F or asphaltum or like substance is poured in to hermetically seal the cell, filling the outer vessel A, as shown. In the drawing there are seven disks D closing the bottom of the bag. Ordinarily two disks are sufficient, provided the end of carbon C does not touch them, but has ground carbon packed between it and the disks, as shown. If the stick of carbon touches the disks, particularly when there are but one or two disks used, voltaic action seems much increased at that point and the thin bottom of zinc vessel A becomes perforated. It is my custom to terminate the carbon C and to pack ground carbon beneath it, as shown, the distances from stick 0 to the sides and bottom of zinc A being the same, and the action measurably equal over the entire inner zinc surface. It will be observed that by thus practically extending the carbon to within a small distance of the zinc element the internal resistance of the battery is much reduced, with a correspondingly-increased output of current. Furthermore, it is found that the polarization of the cell is materially delayed and its recovery hastened by the construction specified.

In this description I Wish to distinguish between the known forms of dry batteries wherein a porous envelop lines the zinc and the entire interior area of the cell about the carbon element is filled with a mixture of carbon dust, depolarizer, and excit-ant, also between the forms wherein particles of carbon of relatively considerable size are packed within a porous receptacle immediately inclosing the carbon element, but leaving a body of liquid next the zinc element, and the peculiar combination constituting my invention. In the first form the dust packs into practically a solid mass and refuses to take up at one time but little of the liquid excitant. Renewals or some attention must be often given such cells. In the latter forms the liquid areas materially increase the internal resistances of the cells. By employing carbon ground relatively fine, but by no means powdered to dust, I virtually extend the carbon element to within a short distance of the zinc and yet afford interstitial spaces for a considerable charge of excitant solution. Carbon so ground will not pack solidly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and seek to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In a galvanic battery, the combination of a zinc vessel provided with a connector, a bag constructed of asbestos cloth and adapted to fit the interior of said vessel closely, the bottom of said bag being closed by superimposed disks of asbestos cloth, a stick of carbon placed centrally within said bag and provided upper portion of said bag being folded inwardly against the carbon stick, and a body of asphaltum thereon sealing the cell, as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. FRAZIER.

Witnesses:

JOHN BRITTAIN, J. A. TEssEL. 

